Tasks

In the previous chapter we saw that tasks do not simply appear of their own accord. They are not «simply there», but result from a certain objective in the personal or professional area. The tasks can therefore also be just as diverse as the goals. The nature of the tasks correspond with a concrete plan, showing how a goal or partial goal should be reached.

There are usually different options for how to achieve a given goal. In selecting our tasks we plan our personal route to the goal for which we are striving. It will however certainly not be the only possible way of reaching this goal but it will simply be the best way in our own eyes. The criteria we use to select this best route are naturally very individual.

The way these tasks are later solved is in effect the conversion of the plans into reality. These are further decisions and negotiations. By this means we choose our path towards the achievement of a goal.

If for example someone sets himself the goal of setting aside a particular amount of money during the coming year as a reserve, this can be done in several ways, corresponding with different tasks:

Spending less money - thereby achieving the goal with the same income.

Attempting to get a higher salary within the current job and to keep the outgoings constant.

Searching for a second job.

Attempting to find a better paid job.

Selling some possessions.

Hoping to win lotteries or competitions

Perhaps the money already exists and only needs to be transferred into a savings account.

Each of the options on this list corresponds with a different and real task. Each individual task can however lead to the desired goal. No one would probably set himself all of the tasks at the same time but would decide upon one or perhaps two of them. This corresponds with the personal plan for reaching the goal.

The effective solving of the task thus corresponds with the path being pursued towards the achievement of the goal. Perhaps however the task will only be poorly resolved such that the goal being pursued is not achieved in spite of good planning.

Let’s take as a further example a married couple who have decided that they would like to have children. From this objective and its realization a whole series of tasks will arise in the course of the following years: Material support for a family, provision of home and living area for the children, upbringing, education etc. By deciding that they would like to have children this couple have automatically set themselves these tasks. They have created a large number of tasks for themselves. We could also find lots of similar examples in the business area.

Before a task can be solved it should be accurately and clearly formulated. Thereby it is not important whether I myself solve the task or whether I delegate it to a third party. In the professional area we frequently differentiate between the person who sets the task (task setter, delegator) and the person who carries out the task (performer). In the private area we normally set our own tasks.